This image was not doctored (But whose hand IS that?)

April 28, 2011

Eagle-eyed readers often spot things in photographs that are worth asking a question. On Thursday, the questions arose over photographer Alex Garcia's photo of the President and First Lady at the top of the steps to Air Force One.

When you see it, you'll understand why. In the image used by the Chicago Tribune, it was as if an Occult Hand had appeared between the first couple. Seemingly just floating there. No third body visible at all.

In age of digital photo editing software, people often assume image doctoring:

As a matter of policy -- and as you might suspect -- we at the Chicago Tribune do not alter documentary photography, said Photo Chief Robin Daughtridge.

In fact, there was a person who belonged to the hand, though Michelle Obama's yellow coat obscures them in the first frame. At the Trib Photo Nation blog Assignment Chicago, Alex provides the five-shot sequence that reveals that the Phantom Hand belongs to ...